Carrier & Other Oils

Plant oils are used extensively in skin care preparations to improve the condition of the skin, nails and hair. To use plant oils properly and to the best advantage, it is necessary to study and understand their varied constituents. Their composition will influence the choice of oil to achieve a particular outcome.

There are distinct differences between fixed/carrier oils and essential oils. The plant oils used as carriers in aromatherapy and massage are referred to as fixed oils because they do not evaporate. Plant essential oils evaporate because they are volatile. Essential oils dissolve easily and completely in fixed oils in all proportions. A fixed oil may also be called a carrier oil because its function is to carry or act as a vehicle for administering the essential oils to the body. They also act as lubricants, making it possible to carry out massage movements. All carrier oils are emollient, to a greater or lesser degree.

PLASTIC JUG OR PAIL: For the fixed oils we offer both in plastic jugs and in plastic pails, we reserve the right to use a pail or a jug should we run out of either at one time or another, i.e., you order an oil in a jug and we must pack it in a pail because we have run out of jugs and vice versa. We thank you for your understanding.

Cold pressed vegetable oils are best and are generally superior to those found in local stores. In the cold pressing process excessive heat is avoided in order to minimize changes to the natural characteristics of the plant material.

Traditionally, there are two methods of cold pressing. In one, the raw material (seeds, nuts or kernels) is simply pressed with a hydraulic press and the oil is squeezed out. This process is only used for soft oily seeds and plant material such as olive, sesame and sunflower.

Harder seeds such as safflower require more force; a large, powerful screw device known as an expeller is used to crush the plant material which may be passed through the expeller more than once. The process generates a certain amount of heat.

The crushed shells and other waste are removed from the oil by a succession of filters the last of which is made of paper. The oil obtained is usually clear and its taste and nutritional properties intact.

The proper storage of carrier oils is very important. Keep your carrier oils cool, in the dark and away from direct light/heat. The head space above the oil in a bottle should be minimized to prevent or slow down rancidity. Once an oil starts to smell rancid it should be discarded and not used. (This information was obtained from the book Carrier Oils for Aromatherapy & Massage by Len Price.)

For the fixed oils we offer both in plastic jugs and in plastic pails, we reserve the right to use a pail or a jug should we run out of either at one time or another, i.e., you order an oil in a jug and we must pack it in a pail because we have run out of jugs. We thank you for your understanding.